2007 SECTION II, PART A SA-553 /SA-553M
SPECIFICATION FOR PRESSURE VESSEL PLATES,
ALLOY STEEL, QUENCHED AND TEMPERED 8 AND 9
PERCENT NICKEL
SA-553 /SA-553M
[Identical with ASTM Specification A 553 /A 553M-95 (R00).]
1. Scope
1.1 This specification covers 8 and 9 % nickel alloy
steel plates for use in the water quenched and tempered
condition intended for the fabrication of welded pressure
vessels.
1.2 Material under this specification is available in two
types having different chemical composition as follows:
Nominal Nickel
Type Content, %
I 9
II 8
1.3 Plates produced under this specification are subject
to impact testing at −320°F [−195°C] for Type I, and
−275°F [−170°C] for Type II or at such other temperatures
as are agreed upon.
1.4 The maximum thickness of plates is limited only
by the capacity of the material to meet the specified
mechanical property requirements; however, current mill
practice normally limits this material to 2 in. [50 mm] max.
1.5 This material is susceptible to magnetization. Use
of magnets in handling after heat treatment should be
avoided if residual magnetism would be detrimental to
subsequent fabrication or service.
1.6 The values stated in either inch-pound units or SI
units are to be regarded separately as standard. Within the
text, the SI units are shown in brackets. The values stated
in each system are not exact equivalents; therefore, each
system must be used independently of the other. Combining
values from the two systems may result in nonconformance
with the specification.
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2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
A 20 /A 20M Specification for General Requirements for
Steel Plates for Pressure Vessels
A 435 /A 435M Specification for Straight-Beam Ultrasonic
Examination of Steel Plates
A 577 /A 577M Specification for Ultrasonic Angle-Beam
Examination of Steel Plates
A 578 /A 578M Specification for Straight-Beam Ultrasonic
Examination of Plain and Clad Steel Plates for Special
Applications
3. General Requirements and Ordering
Information
3.1 Material supplied to this material specification shall
conform to Specification A 20 /A 20M. These requirements
outline the testing and retesting methods and procedures,
permissible variations in dimensions, and mass, quality
and repair of defects, marking, loading, etc.
3.2 Specification A 20 /A 20M also establishes the rules
for the ordering information which should be complied
with when purchasing material to this specification.
3.3 In addition to the basic requirements of this specifi-
cation, certain supplementary requirements are available
when additional control, testing, or examination is required
to meet end use requirements. These include:
3.3.1 Vacuum treatment,
3.3.2 Additional or special tension testing,
3.3.3 Impact testing, and
3.3.4 Nondestructive examination.
3.4 The purchaser is referred to the listed supplemen-
tary requirements in this specification and to the detailed
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 SA-553 /SA-553M 2007 SECTION II, PART A
requirements in Specification A 20 /A 20M.
3.5 If the requirements of this specification are in con-
flict with the requirements of Specification A 20 /A 20M,
the requirements of this specification shall prevail.
4. Manufacture
4.1 Steelmaking Practice — The steel shall be killed
and shall conform to the fine austenitic grain size require-
ment of Specification A 20 /A 20M.
5. Heat Treatment
5.1 All plates shall be heat treated in accordance with
5.2. Shell plates and other parts, including heads and rein-
forcing pads, which are heated for forming, shall be heat
treated after forming in accordance with 5.2.
5.2 Heat Treatment Procedure — Heat treat all plates
by heating to a suitable temperature within the range from
1475 to 1700°F [800 to 925°C], holding for a sufficient
time to obtain uniform temperature throughout the plate
thickness and then quenching in water. Subsequently, tem-
per the plates within the range from 1050 to 1175°F [565
to 635°C], holding at this temperature for a minimum of
30 min /in. [1.2 min /mm] of thickness but not less than
15 min, and cool in air or water quench at a rate not less
than 300°F /h [165°C /h].
5.2.1 Hardening — The plates shall be heated to a
temperature within the range from 1475 to 1700°F [800
to 925°C], held at that temperature for a sufficient time to
obtain uniform temperature throughout the plate thickness,
and then quenched in a liquid media.
5.2.2 Tempering — The plates shall be tempered at
a temperature within the range from 1050 to 1175°F [565
to 635°C], being held at that temperature for a minimum
of 30 min /in. [1.2 min /mm] of thickness, but in no case
less than 15 min., and then cooled in air or liquid-quenched
at a rate not less than 300°F /h [165°C /h].
5.2.2.1 Prior to the tempering treatment, the plates
may be subjected to an intermediate heat treatment con-
sisting of heating to a temperature in the range from 1165
to 1290°F [630 to 700°C] for Type I, or 1185 to 1310°F
[640 to 710°C] for Type II, holding at that temperature for
a minimum of 1 h /in. [2.4 min /mm] of thickness, but in
no case less than 15 min, and then water-quenching to
below 300°F [150°C] in the case of plate thicknesses of
more than 5⁄8 in. [16 mm] or cooling in air or water-quench-
ing to below 300°F [150°C] in the case of plate thicknesses
of 5⁄8 in. [16 mm] and under.
NOTE 1 — The intermediate heat treatment is for the purpose of enhanc-
ing elongation and notch-toughness and for reducing susceptibility to
strain-aging embrittlement and temper embrittlement. It may be performed
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purchaser.
6. Chemical Requirements
6.1 The steel shall conform to the chemical require-
ments shown in Table 1 unless otherwise modified in accor-
dance with Supplementary Requirement S17, Vacuum
Carbon-Deoxidized Steel, in Specification A 20 /A 20M.
7. Mechanical Requirements
7.1 Tension Test Requirements — The material as repre-
sented by tension-test specimens shall conform to the
requirements specified in Table 2.
7.1.1 Upon agreement between the purchaser and
the manufacturer, yield strength may be determined by the
extension under load method, using 0.005 in. / in.
[mm /mm] total extension.
7.1.2 For nominal plate thicknesses of 3⁄4 in. [20 mm]
and under, the 11⁄2-in. [40-mm] wide rectangular specimen
may be used for the tension test and the elongation may
be determined in a 2 in. [50-mm] gage length that includes
the fracture and shows the greatest elongation.
7.2 Impact Test Requirements:
7.2.1 Charpy V-notch impact tests shall be made in
accordance with Specification A 20 /A 20M.
7.2.2 The longitudinal axis of the test specimens
shall be transverse to the final rolling direction of the plate.
7.2.3 Unless otherwise agreed, tests shall be con-
ducted at −320°F [−195°C] for Type I and at −275°F
[−170°C] for Type II.
7.2.4 Each test specimen shall have a lateral expan-
sion opposite the notch of not less than 0.015 in.
[0.381 mm].
8. Finish
8.1 Because retained scale may mask surface imperfec-
tions, as well as mar the plate surface, plates shall be
descaled by the producer after heat treatment. In the case
of material to be heat-treated by the purchaser, the plates
shall be descaled by the producer prior to shipment.
9. Marking
9.1 In addition to the marking required in Specification
A 20 /A 20M, each plate shall be legibly stamped or sten-
ciled, depending upon the ordered thickness, with the letters
QT, except as otherwise specified in 9.1.1.
9.1.1 When the optional heat treatment in 5.2.2.1 is
performed, the plates shall be marked with the letters QTT
instead of QT.
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 2007 SECTION II, PART A SA-553 /SA-553M

TABLE 1
CHEMICAL REQUIREMENTS
Composition, %

Element Type I Type II

A
Carbon, max 0.13 0.13
Manganese, max:
Heat analysis 0.90 0.90
Product analysis 0.98 0.98
Phosphorus, maxA 0.035 0.035
Sulfur, maxA 0.035 0.035
Silicon:
Heat analysisB 0.15–0.40 0.15–0.40
Product analysisC 0.13–0.45 0.13–0.45
Nickel:
Heat analysis 8.50–9.50 7.50–8.50
Product analysis 8.40–9.60 7.40–8.60
A
Applies to both heat and product analyses.
B
Silicon may be less than 0.15%, provided total aluminimum is
0.030% or over, or provided acid soluble aluminum is 0.025% or
over.
C
Silicon may be less than 0.13%, provided total aluminimum is
0.030% or over, or provided acid soluble aluminum is 0.025% or
over.

TABLE 2
TENSILE REQUIREMENTS

Tensile strength, ksi [MPa] 100 to 120 [690–825]

Yield strength (0.2% offset), min, ksi
[MPa] 85 [585]
Elongation in 2 in. [50 mm], min, %A 20.0

A
See Specification A 20/A 20M for elongation adjustment.

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SA-553 /SA-553M 2007 SECTION II, PART A

SUPPLEMENTARY REQUIREMENTS

Supplementary requirements shall not apply unless specified in the order.

A list of standard supplementary requirements for use at the option of the purchaser are
included in Specification A 20 /A 20M. Several of those considered suitable for use with
this specification are listed below by title. Other tests may be performed by agreement
between the supplier and the purchaser.

S1. Vacuum Treatment, S9. Magnetic Particle Examination,

S2. Product Analysis, S11. Ultrasonic Examination in accordance with
Specification A 577 /A 577M,
S3. Simulated Post-Weld Heat Treatment of
Mechanical Test Coupons, S12. Ultrasonic Examination in accordance with
Specification A 578 /A 578M,
S6. Drop Weight Test,
S14. Bend Test, and
S8. Ultrasonic Examination in accordance with
Specification A 435 /A 435M, S17. Vacuum Carbon-Deoxidized Steel.

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 2007 SECTION II, PART A SA-553 /SA-553M

ADDITIONAL SUPPLEMENTARY REQUIREMENTS

Also listed below are additional optional Supplementary Requirements S55 and S56, which
are suitable for this specification.

S55. Longitudinal Charpy Impact Energy S56. Transverse Charpy Impact Energy Absorption
Absorption Requirement Requirement
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S55.1 The longitudinal Charpy V-notch impact proper-
ties shall not be less than 25 ft·lbf [34 J] at the specified
temperature.
S55.2 Each impact test value shall constitute the aver-
age value of three specimens, with not more than one value
below the specified minimum value of 25 ft·lbf [34 J] but
in no case below 20 ft·lbf [27 J] for full size specimens.
S56.1 The transverse Charpy V-notch impact properties
shall not be less than 20 ft·lbf [27 J] at the specified temper-
ature.
S56.2 Each impact test value shall constitute the aver-
age value of three specimens, with not more than one value
below the specified minimum value of 20 ft·lbf [27 J] but
in no case below 15 ft·lbf [20 J] for full size specimens.

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 1038
Copyright ASME International
Provided by IHS under license with ASME Licensee=PT JGC INDONESIA/5969546001
No reproduction or networking permitted without license from IHS Not for Resale, 09/30/2007 22:23:14 MDT